Tag: stila Archives - Beauty Banter

Working both online and in print, I have a mantra of sorts: I love social media but we need to lead social lives as well.

Sometimes the two paths intersect beautifully, like Monday night, when my friend Laura Tremaine, who writes Hollywood Housewife, threw a party at Blushington – quite possibly my new favorite place on earth. Or on Sunset, at least.

The concept is brilliant – a walk-in welcome salon made up of professional makeup artists who’ll make you over for an evening event or lunch with friends for $35. You can also add on options like airbrushing or lashes (faux, extensions, tinting and more).

Did I mention appointments aren’t necessary (though highly recommended for special occasions and Saturday nights)? For $35.

I’m a pushover for fabulous branding, and they had me at the blush pink beribboned logo featured on Laura’s invitation (loved the Dior vibe). Once there, I was truly impressed. From the wall of mirrors made from compacts to the Hollywood Regency feel that reminded me of the the beauty salons of once upon a time, in places like Bullocks Wilshire or George Cukor’s The Women.

(I can’t tell you how happy I was to see they included an eco-chic pick like Hewitt in the mix. Her lipsticks prove that eco-luxe cosmetics exist – like something out of a 1946 issue of VOGUE.)

I spent time talking with Blushington’s close-knit team and was thrilled to see how much they love what they do, and how hard they’re working to make it unique. There’s something very cool, and rare, about a place that’s luxurious without being snobbishly exclusive. We need more of that in this world.

images courtesy author and laura tremaine

With some seriously fabulous eye makeup (courtesy of Blushington’s Emma Willis – whose station happened to be filled with carefully labeled Z Palettes…small world), it was an evening of makeup, drinks and good conversation with friends (old and new) at sunset, on Sunset. I love LA.

Emma gave me a wonderfully dramatic and defined eye, a bit mod yet modern, and mixed a few Stila lip glazes to create a sheer berry hue. And I loved the way she did my friend Morgan’s makeup, too. (I wrote about Morgan’s maternity beauty regime on BB in 2009, here).

Laura and Blushington hosted a wonderful, much needed evening. I loved getting to see friends – both URL ones and IRL ones, too. I’ve decided I need to do more Dramatic Eye Makeup Mondays. Because Mondays can use all the help they can get.

From Awards Season in full swing to Monday blahs, it’s nice to know Blushington is there. (With DryBar literally next door, this corner of Sunset Plaza is like the beauty version of Clark Kent’s superhero-changing phone booth.)

And knowing that this sort of thing is accessible to all? Well, that’s the beauty of it, really. xo a.

Alex Asher Sears is a writer, photographer, and fourth generation Angeleno. She believes that you can find inspiration anywhere but thinks Slim Aarons, Nöel Coward and Diana Vreeland are a great place to start. Since 2007, she’s been sharing her eco-beauty finds with BB readers. She writes at AlexandraWrote, and also, quite literally, at Type A Calligraphy. Find her on twitter at @AlexandraWrote.

I am so excited about this post, as I’m sure you will be too. Today’s bathing beauty is a true beauty legend, a woman I admire greatly in the industry, the founder of Stila Cosmetics, celebrity makeup artist Jeanine Lobell! She’s worked on some of the most famous faces including Natalie Portman and Penelope Cruz and created some of the most memorable products — Stila Lip Glaze in Papaya and Convertible color in Poppy are personal favorites!

She’s witty, savvy, smart, successful and she knows her beauty stuff. Naturally, I had to ask her my 7 favorite beauty related questions. Here’s what Jeanine had to say:

Favorite beauty secret you’ve picked up along the way?I have many beauty secrets and can’t tell them all, but for me it’s all about using a ton of moisturizer every day several times a day. It’s kept those pesky wrinkles away.

Beauty icon you admire?Audrey Hepburn. She looked so amazing as she aged, wrinkles and all.

Barbie loved Stila last year with limited-edition era cans of makeup and this fall, Barbie is still loving Stila. For their second collaboration – inspired by looks created for the first ever Barbie runway show – Stila is going bold with brightly colored eyes and mega glossy lips.

Here are the deets:

All Doll’d Up Palette ($28.00)A must-have for any glam girl, this adorable refillable compact – decorated with a lenticular of the iconic Barbie stare contains FOUR eye shadow trios (TWELVE eye shadow shades!) for endless looks and countless levels of glamour.

Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner ($20.00)Created especially for the Barbie collection, this new marker-like pen glides on with precision and ease and won’t smudge or run. The intense carbon black color creates definition for day and drama for night.

Can you believe it? Barbie is a half a century old (yet she doesn’t look a day over 21 — I need some of her beauty cream!). In honor of Barbie’s birthday celebration, interior decorator extraordinaire, Jonathan Adler took a Malibu mansion and transformed it into a chic, Barbie dream house.A bit of Barbie History: The first Barbie was introduced at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. She was Barbie, the Teen-Age Fashion Model. Ruth Handler, creator of the Barbie doll (and mega millionaire), says that “Barbie has always represented that a woman has choices… She had the clothes, for example, to launch a career as a nurse, a stewardess, a nightclub singer…” As of 2009, Barbie has 108 careers! Ken was introduced in 1961. Midge, the best friend, in 1963.

Last night, I ventured to Malibu for a look at the life of the original girl power doll, Barbie!

From a real Andy Warhol painting of the birthday girl, to a Barbie shrine room housing Barbie’s from every era, a chandelier entirely made of Barbie hair, to custom B-embroidered carpet and lampshades, to a closet solely consisting of pink Christian Louboutin heels, to a Dylan’s Candy Bar Corner, Barbie’s dream house is both girly and glamorous (with loads of pink, naturally).

Stila’s Lip Glaze in Cranberry is my current obsession. It’s part stain, part gloss, all fabulous color. The consistency is perfect – never gooey but definitely shiny – and full of natural color.

The lip glaze was part of the Stila Backstage with Lela Rose kit and it’s meant to give lips that “just-ate-a-basket-of-berries” flushed glow. Use a little and you’re lips have that very natural red hue, use more and you’ll get a nice evening out red color.

But here’s my trick: I LOVE this product on the apples of my cheeks. Not too much, just a dab – enough to give a glowing, berry stained, au natural color with a hint of sheen. It’s so easy to wear and versatile, I carry it in my purse for those “just in case” moments…. (a date? drinks with friends? a cute boy in the car next to me?).

A word (or several…) from the company:“To inspire women to exercise their right to vote, Stila is teaming up with Rock the Vote for a limited edition lipstick that will bring a new breed of “lip service” to the 2008 Presidential Election. 25% of proceeds from the first 500 sold will be donated to Rock the Vote in support of their efforts to mobilize young people to get involved in the political process. Stila will also feature a “Register to Vote” icon on their website. Even if you are not yet a registered voter, it is simple to get the process started with the click of a button.”

Here’s a cool spin on things: a bronzing POWDER with SPF… yes, I know it’s been around for some time but it’s a current obsession of mine, and due to the heat, I felt it was quite timely.

Pre-summer, PTR launched their Instant Mineral Powder SPF’s… I didn’t really care for this product. I really wanted to love it, but I just couldn’t. It was messy and the powder either exploded from the brush or barely came out at all. And I could never get the darn top back on without blugeoning the bristles! Needless to say, I wasn’t a fan (and I usually love all things PTR!).

(sadly, no go)

But then on a recent jaunt to Sephora I discovered Stila’s Sun Bronzing Powder with SPF 15. It’s actually a near-perfect “natural” colored tan that also offers sun protection. Two products for the price of one… we love it! (Although, as always, you should be using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 45 with both UVA and UVB screening filters… but this is a great addition to your everyday sunscreen.)

(the bomb!)

The powder is pressed – which means no messes! – and it comes in two shades – shade 1 (sheer golden matte bronze) and shade 2 (sheer warm matte bronze). I use shade 2 because I have naturally darker skin. Even without the spf (although this is a great summer beach bag must-have) this bronzer would still be amazing and worth the purchase! After all, it is Stila’s “best-selling bronzing powder formula.” How can you go wrong?!

I was a lucky guest at the Silver Spoon winter gift-giveaway… and WOW did I walk away with some incredible beauty products!

The gifting suites were held at Voda Spa (read my post on the fabulous Russian bath house HERE) and such savvy brands like Stila Cosmetics, Ted Gibson, Frilly Lilly, La Fleur, Weleda, and The Face Shop, were in attendance.

About Beauty Banter Beauty Banter was launched in July of 2006 as a comprehensive beauty blog covering trends, tips and tricks, insider secrets, and weekly must-haves. Beauty Banter has a reputation of being on the cutting edge of emerging trends and product launches so our readers are always the first to know what’s hot and what’s just not.